News Release

Thursday, March 7, 2002

Victim Brutally Stabbed to Death; Police Seeking the Public's Help

"Victim Brutally Stabbed To Death; Police Seeking the Public's Help"

Los Angeles: On Wednesday, March 6, 2002, at 8:50 p.m., West Valley Officers responded to an "Assault With a Deadly Weapon in Progress" radio call in the 6300 block of Reseda Boulevard. Upon their arrival, the officers were met by a 24 year-old female. She told the officers she called the police because her ex-boyfriend, Matthew Elliot Lee, had just stabbed a friend of hers in her apartment. The officers went to the woman's apartment and discovered the body of a man lying on the entryway floor. The victim had sustained multiple stab wounds to his back. Responding paramedics arrived and pronounced the victim dead at 9:15 p.m.

On Wednesday, March 6, 2002, at 8:50 p.m., West Valley Officers responded to an "Assault With a Deadly Weapon in Progress" radio call in the 6300 block of Reseda Boulevard. Upon their arrival, the officers were met by a 24 year-old female. She told the officers she called the police because her ex-boyfriend, Matthew Elliot Lee, had just stabbed a friend of hers in her apartment. The officers went to the woman's apartment and discovered the body of a man lying on the entryway floor. The victim had sustained multiple stab wounds to his back. Responding paramedics arrived and pronounced the victim dead at 9:15 p.m.

The investigation revealed that the woman and Matthew Elliot Lee had been living together, but broke up last August. On March 6, 2002, at 8:45 p.m., she was in her apartment with the victim, 25 year-old Jesse Jamar Jackson of Inglewood, when Matthew Lee took a large extension ladder and placed it against the balcony of her third story apartment. Lee climbed up the ladder, climbed onto her balcony, and kicked open her sliding screen door and forcibly entered her apartment. As the woman fled the scene, Lee attacked Jesse Jamar Jackson, stabbing him several times in the back with a large knife. Lee fled on foot and is being sought for the victim's murder at this time.

Matthew Elliot Lee is described as a male Black, 5'11, 165 pounds, black hair and brown eyes, 25 years of age. Lee is considered armed and dangerous. A photo of the suspect is available at Media Relations Section, Los Angeles Police Department.

UPDATE: On March 7, 2002, at approximately 11:40 a.m., Detectives received information that a construction worker had discovered the body of a male, Black at the bottom of the flood control channel located at Kittridige and Reseda Boulevard. It was later determined that the body was that of Matthew Elliot Lee. Lee had been the victim of an apparent suicide. The photo of the suspect will no longer be available from Media Relations Section.